Thought Leaders Should Connect on Social Media

Thought leaders flourish in their field as they predict and share innovative ideas for their industry. Many effectively contribute to industry dialogue by spreading their messages via social media. In fact, it would be difficult for a thought leader to develop their personal brand without a strong social media presence.

For this reason, anyone who is a thought leader in their industry, such as CEOs, should also be social networkers. If you are currently not on social media, fear not! Here are some helpful strategies to get you on the right path –

Pick a social media platform that is easiest for you to use during your busy day. If you only have a few minutes to share a short, quick message then Twitter may be the way to go. If you have time to sit down and think about what you would like to share, and have images to share, then Facebook may be a good option for you. Get comfortable with the platform of your choice before adding on a second or third network.

Create a few talking points that are most important to you and use them as a foundation to regularly connect with your audience.

Talk to your audience. Tag people in your industry to ask them questions or give them credit for something they previously posted. If your followers comment on your posts or ask you questions, do your best to respond promptly. Creating a dialogue that people can engage in helps them feel more connected to you. Without connecting, you cannot build relationships.

Share important news in your industry so people can identify and relate to your values.

Eventually, begin content creation, such as blogs, newsletters and op-eds, so you and the business you manage can share the pieces broadly.

Establishing or maintaining your thought leadership role on social media should be less intimidating if you use these tips. Social media isn’t going anywhere, so it would be a good investment of your time.